Proverbs 20
1 Wine is a mocker and beer is a brawler. Whoever is led astray by them is not wise.
Wine is a mocker, strong drink is a brawler, and whoever is led astray by them is not wise.
2 The terror of a king is like the roaring of a lion. He who provokes him to anger forfeits his own life.
The terror of a king is like the roar of a lion; whoever provokes him forfeits his own life.
3 It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife, but every fool will be quarreling.
It is honorable for a man to resolve a dispute, but any fool will quarrel.
4 The sluggard will not plow by reason of the winter; therefore he shall beg in harvest, and have nothing.
The slacker does not plow in season; at harvest time he looks, but nothing is there.
5 Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out.
The intentions of a man’s heart are deep waters, but a man of understanding draws them out.
6 Many men claim to be men of unfailing love, but who can find a faithful man?
Many a man proclaims his loving devotion, but who can find a trustworthy man?
7 A righteous man walks in integrity. Blessed are his children after him.
The righteous man walks with integrity; blessed are his children after him.
8 A king who sits on the throne of judgment scatters away all evil with his eyes.
A king who sits on a throne to judge sifts out all evil with his eyes.
9 Who can say, “I have made my heart pure. I am clean and without sin”?
Who can say, “I have kept my heart pure; I am cleansed from my sin”?
10 Differing weights and differing measures, both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD.
Differing weights and unequal measures — both are detestable to the LORD.
11 Even a child makes himself known by his doings, whether his work is pure, and whether it is right.
Even a young man is known by his actions— whether his conduct is pure and upright.
12 The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD has made even both of them.
Ears that hear and eyes that see— the LORD has made them both.
13 Do not love sleep, lest you come to poverty. Open your eyes, and you shall be satisfied with bread.
Do not love sleep, or you will grow poor; open your eyes, and you will have plenty of food.
14 “It’s no good, it’s no good,” says the buyer; but when he is gone his way, then he boasts.
“Worthless, worthless!” says the buyer, but on the way out, he gloats.
15 There is gold and abundance of rubies, but the lips of knowledge are a rare jewel.
There is an abundance of gold and rubies, but lips of knowledge are a rare treasure.
16 Take the garment of one who puts up collateral for a stranger; and hold him in pledge for a wayward woman.
Take the garment of the one who posts security for a stranger; get collateral if it is for a foreigner.
17 Fraudulent food is sweet to a man, but afterwards his mouth is filled with gravel.
Food gained by fraud is sweet to a man, but later his mouth is full of gravel.
18 Plans are established by advice; by wise guidance you wage war!
Set plans by consultation, and wage war under sound guidance.
19 He who goes about as a tale-bearer reveals secrets; therefore do not keep company with him who opens wide his lips.
He who reveals secrets is a constant gossip; avoid the one who babbles with his lips.
20 Whoever curses his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in blackness of darkness.
Whoever curses his father or mother, his lamp will be extinguished in deepest darkness.
21 An inheritance quickly gained at the beginning will not be blessed in the end.
An inheritance gained quickly will not be blessed in the end.
22 Do not say, “I will pay back evil.” Wait for the LORD, and he will save you.
Do not say, “I will avenge this evil!” Wait on the LORD, and He will save you.
23 The LORD detests differing weights, and dishonest scales are not pleasing.
Unequal weights are detestable to the LORD, and dishonest scales are no good.
24 A man’s steps are from the LORD; how then can man understand his way?
A man’s steps are from the LORD, so how can anyone understand his own way?
25 It is a snare to a man to make a rash dedication, then later to consider his vows.
It is a trap for a man to dedicate something rashly, only later to reconsider his vows.
26 A wise king winnows out the wicked, and drives the threshing wheel over them.
A wise king separates out the wicked and drives the threshing wheel over them.
27 The spirit of man is the LORD’s lamp, searching all his innermost parts.
The spirit of a man is the lamp of the LORD, searching out his inmost being.
28 Love and faithfulness keep the king safe. His throne is sustained by love.
Loving devotion and faithfulness preserve a king; by these he maintains his throne.
29 The glory of young men is their strength. The splendor of old men is their gray hair.
The glory of young men is their strength, and gray hair is the splendor of the old.
30 Wounding blows cleanse away evil, and beatings purge the innermost parts.
Lashes and wounds scour evil, and beatings cleanse the inmost parts.
